Greg Slaughter, left, and Marcio Lassiter have found themselves in the middle of a storm over their decision to pull out of the Gilas pool. Jerome Ascano

THE head of the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement said on Tuesday he has no plan to conduct an inquiry into Greg Slaughter and Marcio Lassiter's pullout from the Gilas Pilipinas pool, saying playing for the national team is a "privilege and not an obligation."

His opinion runs counter with that of Barzaga, head of the House Committee on Games and Amusement who, in a tirade on Monday, hit out at Slaughter and Lassiter for pulling out of the Gilas pool for the Fiba World Cup in Spain and the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

At the same time, Barzaga bared plans to summon the two as well as officials of the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) as he threatened to push for the cancellation of the professional licenses as well as the passports of the two Fil-foreign players from Ginebra and San Miguel Beer.

Continue reading below ↓

However, Angara, a second-generation senator, was firm in his stand that players who decline to play for the national team cannot be forced to do so.

"It's a privilege (to play for the national team). Not all who are asked will accept, pero di din mapilipit," he said.

Meanwhile, a source close to Lassiter and Slaughter bared the two under-fire players are feeling the pressure but at the same time are comforted by the support and understanding of fans.